Dear seniors,

First of all I thank you in advance for investing your time in reading and answering my query. I sincerely solicit your advices on my problem. Many of you might have experienced this situation...or must have seen others go through it ….one advice from experts like you may help thousands like us….

This is kamal. I am an MBA with 10 years of experience in content management [print and web]. I have worked for three companies during these ten years. The second company is the world's second largest market research company and the third is a British media giant [I am currently working here].

My first employer

The first firm I worked with is a really small firm - a home-bases proprietary publishing firm [sole proprietorship] that publishes almanacs [a book on Hindu religious traditions, etc] and travel guides [for four different cities] in our regional language [Telugu]. On and off, it published travel guides in English. I worked here was Editorial Assistant from October 2002 to August 2007 [5 years]. I worked for Rs 6,580 per month [CTC: Rs 78, 960/ annum]. There were no deductions for tax, PF or anything. There were no payslips. I was paid cash in hand.

The publishing firm was not registered under the companies act, 1956. However, it was registered with Registrar of Newspapers of India [RNI], which is like a license to run a publishing firm. The firm had a total of eight employees - 6 contracted & commissioned sales boys, me and the proprietor. The proprietor had a single room office setup at his uncle's huge house. He outsourced all the printing and designing work. We had total sales of 5000 to 8000 copies a year. It was out of the bracket of commercial tax. However, we still maintained our bills or receipts given to our clients [highly reputed public and private sector clients] who placed advertisements in our books. Please note: my proprietor alone has contacts with the concerned personnel from these companies when dealing in ads.

Issue with background check

Having worked with the proprietor for such a long period - 5 years, I have a good relationship with the proprietor and have been in touch with him till now. I am aware that he is still running the firm. He told me recently that moved to another city, where he is running the business in an apartment [single office room setup] with just a nameboard [his name, proprietor, publishing firm's name]. He also stopped publishing the travel guides after I left the firm. He is now solely dependent on almanacs. Also, his RNI license is now expired – he says he is going to renew it. It was valid when I was working for him. The proprietor issued me both offer letter and experience certificate.

I am now getting calls from big players like Accenture, Google and TCS. The HR teams of my second and third employers contacted the proprietor via phone and confirmed my details. However, practice with big companies is different altogether. They send background check agencies to locations and get the employee details verified.

It’s a small firm with no big name boards. So, people around would not know it well. The address on my offer letter and experience certificate is old. Also, the landline number is not functioning anymore. The proprietor’s mobile phone is functioning. I am anyways going to provide the prospective employer with the new address of the firm. But am still worried as to what would the third party agency view it as if the business or office is such a small one and is running at home? Would they mark me as a red flag? I am 33 years old and at this point I can’t afford to lose good offers…Why is it a problem to prove something that is genuine and legitimate?

Kindly help me with this issue….

Awaiting your replies / advices…

Kamal

From India, Hyderabad
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Hello Kamal,

Who said it is a problem to prove something that is genuine and legitimate? Based on what you mentioned, it looks like it's YOU who is assuming. There's no guarantee that the address of your past employer has to be the same as in your experience letter—many companies change locations for various reasons. Though most change to a larger premises due to business expansion, that's not mandatory—many do it due to downsizing also (which seems to be the case here).

Just go ahead and give the current address—but suggest giving some background to the new company (preferably in writing) after discussing with the proprietor on the reasons—what you mention to your prospective new employer has to match with what the proprietor says. The fact that this earlier job was your first one should make matters simpler and less apprehensive to any BC Agency.

All the best.

Regards,
TS

From India, Hyderabad
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Great! Thank you so much for your advice, Satish. It was quite enlightening and soothing. What you said is right - to be upright about details. I am now confident enough to go ahead with the facts and reasonings.

Nice to have mentors like you around,

Hoping for continued support from you and your peers...

Cheers,
Kamal

From India, Hyderabad
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Dear kamal, No need to worry for any verifications if you have really worked with that concern. Your experiance and workmanship is always regarded. V.N.Kishore
From India, Hyderabad
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Dear all,

It is natural that verifications are common these days because people who have worked for more than 3 years don't know basics and just submit fake experience certificates. If a person works with an organization, they will have a minimum attachment to it and will not disclose anything, whether good or bad, about the candidate. One must ensure that the exit from a company is legally correct. The size of the company or turnover is not a mandate for the caliber of the candidate.

Kishore V.N.

From India, Hyderabad
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Don’t be worried my friend ,there will be no problem with the company address change ,for your clarification provide the new address and your proprietor number to you present company.
From India, Hyderabad
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Hi Kamal,

I have worked with only small or medium-sized companies, so I am not familiar with the practical procedures of larger companies or MNCs. However, all departments work according to their laws, education, and experiences. I must say that if you disclose your correct information and it is verified by the background check agency, there should not be any issues. You must clarify your details verbally or in writing to the HR team of your prospective organization.

I hope my words may be helpful for your situation. I wish you all the best.

From India, New Delhi
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Hi Sharma.aksh,

Good to know you are one among people like me. Thank you and nice of you to have posted a reply to my query. Yes, your reply did soothe me. I am on the lookout for advice from employees/HRs from big companies too. That should dismiss my tensions altogether.

Cheers and good luck to you too,
Kamal

From India, Hyderabad
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Similar is the case with me. I worked with a coaching class from 2018 to 2020, which obtained a GST number in 2021. Now, an MNC has requested my GST number for background verification. I am worried whether there might be any issues since they didn't have a GST record before 2021. The coaching class is a registered proprietorship and obtained a shop act license in 2020. Payments were made in cash, and no salary slips were issued. However, they did respond to the MNC's background verification email confirming my employment between the same years. Please help.
From India, undefined
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Hi,

You can submit whatever proof you have, including a relieving order related to your work experience between 2018 and 2020, which is the maximum you can do.

The BGV should be limited to your past employment details only. I really don't understand the purpose behind asking for the GST number. Are they planning to hire you, or are they going to purchase your old company?

Any vendor having a business transaction with the employer will require a GST number. It is not mandatory for your past employer to provide a GST number for employment verification.

Based on the available information, if they hire you, it would be good. If not, look for another employer.

From India, Madras
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